Well-drill.



s. D. WHAM;

WELL DRILL.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1910.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

4 sums-sum 1'.

Attorneys s. 1). WHAM. WELL DRILL.

LPPLIUATION FILED D110. 30, 1910.

1,006,160, Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor Attorneys S. D. W'HAM.

WELL DRILL.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1910.

Patented Oct. 17', 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Inventor Attorneys COLUMBIA PLANOnnAPH cm, WAslllNo'roN. B. c.

S. D. WHAM.

WELL DRILL.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.30 1910.

r O t n e V n Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

w 'e m u A STEUBEN DEKALB WHAM, 0F ELGIN, OKLAHOMA.

WELL-DRILL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1'7, 1911.

Application filed December 30, 1910. Serial No. 600,099.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEUBEN D. WHAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elgin, in the county of Comanche and State of Oklahoma, haveinvented a new and useful WVelLDrill, of which the following is aspecification.

It is the object of this invention to provide, in a well drillingmachine, novel means for actuating the jerk line, to provide .novelmeans for actuating the drill hoist rope and the slush-rope, to providenovel means for operatively connecting the jerk line actuatingmechanism, the hoisting mechanism, and the slush-line mechanism with thesource of power, and to improve generally, the construction ofwell-drilling machines.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed with out departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings;Figure 1 is a longitudinal section wherein sundrydetails appear in elevation; Fig. 2 is a transverse section at rightangles to the cutting plane of Fig. 1, parts being in elevation, andparts being broken away; Fig. 3 is a top plan, parts being removed; Fig.4 is atransverse section of the drill rope hoisting drum, the view beingdesigned to show particularly, the brake whereby the drum is controlled;Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the shafts whereby the drill ropehoisting drum and the jerk line mechanism are operated, the view showingthe mechanism whereby the shafts may be operatively connected; Fig. 6 isa sectional elevation of the slush rope drum and its actuating shaft;Fig. 7 is a detail section, in a horizontal plane, of the pawl andratchet mechanism whereby the jerk line is actuated, the view showingthe parts in the positions which they will assume when the jerk line isabout to be moved by the shaft whereby the jerk line is actuated; Fig. 8is a similar view showing the parts in the positions which they willassume after the jerk line mechanism has been rotated by the shaft, tothe limit of its travel; and Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section ofthe mechanism depicted in Fig. 7

The supporting structure involves, as'primary and fundamental elements,a frame, and a platform which is rotatably mounted upon the frame. Theframe 1 may be of any desired construction, so that it may be mountedfixedly upon the ground, or disposed upon wheels for transportation. Theframe includes a hexagonal portion 2, the constituent elements of theframe being suitably braced, in any desired manner, as shown at 3. Thehexagonal portion 2 of the frame supports a circular track 4. Fixed tothe frame 1 and rising above the same, is a tubular pivot member 5,located at the center of the track 4:, and constituting a support uponwhich the platform is mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane.

The platform preferably consists of sills 6, converging into union at apoint well be yond the periphery of the frame 1. To the lower faces ofthe sills 6, a flooring 7 is secured. Into this flooring 7, the pivotmember 5 protrudes, thus affording a rotatable mounting for theplatform. The lower face of the flooring 7 is equipped with spaced shoes8, adapted to bear upon the track 4, and at the point of confluence ofthe sills 6, a clevis 9, or the like is mounted, whereby one or moredraft animals may be connected with the platform, to secure a rotationthereof upon the pivot member 5, the rotation of the platform upon theframe 1 serving, as will be pointed out hereinafter, to actuate theseveral mechanisms which the supporting structure carries.

Secured to the flooring 7 and disposed between the sills 6, transverselyof the same, is a brace 10. Fixed to and rising from the frame 1,adjacent one end thereof, are spaced uprights 11, connected bytransverse cross bars, numbered consecutively from the bottom of thestructure toward the top as at 12, 14, 15 and 16.

The derrick consists of converging lower members 17, preferably securedto the flooring 7 by means of brackets 18. Alined with the lower members17 and converging upwardly, are the upper members 19 of the derrick, thederrick being disposed in close proximity to the pivot member 5. Thelower members 17 of the derrick are hinged, as shown at 20, to the uppermembers 19, the construction being such that the upper members 19 may befolded downwardly and inwardly, so as to dispose the derrick in smallcompass. To the outer faces of the members 17 and 19, removable fishplates 21 are applied, so as to maintain the constituent elements of thederrick in proper relation to each other, when the derrick is setupright for use, as shown in Fig. 2.

A diagonally disposed brace 22 extends upwardly from the meeting pointof the sills 6 of the platform, into union with the upper ends of themembers 19 of the derrick, this brace 22 obviously serving to uphold thederrick, the brace 22 being removably connected with the elements whichit unites, to provide for a knocking down of the structure. Otherdiagonally disposed braces 23 extend downwardly from the upper ends of'the uprights 11, into union with the free ends of the sills 6 of theplatform, the braces 23 serving as a means for upholdingthe uprights. Tothese braces 23, the derrick may be connected, as indicated at 23' inFig. 1.

Rotatably mounted in bearings 24, secured to the cross bars 15 and 16,is a hoist shaft 25, carrying a hoisting drum 26. The drill rope 27 iswound about the hoisting drum 26, and passes over a sheave 28,rotatab-ly mounted in the free end of an arm 29, consisting of divergingmembers 30, pivoted as shown at 35 to the uprights 11. Above the sheave28, the drill rope 27 is passed over a sheave 31, supported betweenhangers 32, depending from the upper extremity of the derrick, the freeend of the drill rope 27 being carried downwardly through the tubularpivot member 5, into the tubing of the well.

A drive shaft 33 is rotatably mounted in bearings 34, secured, (as shownin Fig. 9,) to the cross bars 12 and 14 of the platform, the drive shaft33 being in vertical alinement with the hoisting shaft 25.

As seen to best advantage in Fig. 5, the adjacent ends of the shafts 25and 33 are squared as at 35. A collar 36 is slidable upon the squaredportion 35 of the shaft 25, the collar being adapted to be lowered toengage the squared end 35 of the shaft 33 so as to unite the shafts 25and 33 for simultaneous rotation. The collar 36 may be manipulated inany desired manner. For instance, a lever 37, fulcrumed at 38 upon abracket 39 secured to the cross bars 14 and 15, may be equipped withspaced fingers 37 (see Fig. 5), adapted to engage the collar 36 to raiseand lower the same, without interfering'with the rotation of the collar.The free end of the lever 37 may be engaged with a standard 87, tomaintain the collar 36 in the uplifted position shown in Fig. 5, thestandard 87 being fixed to the flooring 7, or to any other convenientrigid portion of the device.

Rotatably mounted upon the shaft 33 and preferably disposed between thecross bars 12 and 14, as shown in Fig. 9, is a two-part, segmentalcasing 40. Located within the casing 40, and secured to the shaft 33, isa ratchet 41. This ratchet, referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, isadapted to be engaged by a pawl 42, having diverging, curvilinear ends43 and 44, the ends of the pawl being pivotally united with the casing40 by means of links 45, certain of the securing elements whereby thetwo constituent elements of the casing 40 are held together, ordinarilyconstituting the pivotal mountings of the links 45, as shown at 46. Thecasing 40 carries an upstanding lug 47, adapted to engage the end 43 ofthe pawl, under circumstances to be described hereinafter.

Secured to one of the sills 6 is a transverse bracket 47, carrying anarm 48, adapted to engage the end 43 of the pawl, as will be describedhereinafter. The arm 48 may be adjustably mounted upon the bracket 47 inany desired manner. For instance, openings 49 may be fashioned in thearm 48, and a bolt 50, or like securing element may be mountedsuccessively in the openings 49, to unite the arm 48 with the bracket47. A rod 51 is held for sliding movement beneath a clip 52, attached toone of the sills 6, this rod 51 terminating at its inner end in a springfinger 53, adapted to engage the end 44 of thev pawl.

One of the securing elements which unites the constituent portions ofthe casing 40, may be employed, as shown at 54, to engage one end of thejerk-line 55. The outer edge of the casing 40 is curvilinear in outline,and is grooved, as shown at 56, so that the jerk line 55 may bepartially wound about tlje casing 40, as will be explained hereina 'ter.

The erk line 55, extending from the casing 40, is passed about thesheave 57 mounted upon the brace 10. Above the sheave 57, the jerk lineextends upwardly into union with a link 58, supported upon the pivotelement 59 whereby the sheave 28 is held for rotation upon the arm 29.

Under normal working conditions, the collar 36 is disposed as shown inFig. 5, the shaft 33 being free to rotate, independently of the shaft25. Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, and noting Fig. 7 in the first instance,let it be supposed that the shaft 33 is rotated in the direction of thearrows. Under such circumstances, the ratchet 41 will engage the pawl 42and swing the casing 40 in the direction of the arrows, pivotal movementbetween the pawl 42 and the casing 40 being prevented by the engagementbetween the end 43 of the pawl and the lug 47.

A continued rotation of the shaft 33 will carry the casing into theposition shown in Fig. 8, the extremity of the portion 43 of the pawlcoming into contact with the arm 48. This contact between the portion 43of the pawl and the arm 48, will move the pawl proper 42 out ofengagement with the teeth of the ratchet 41, whereupon the casing 40,

being actuated by the weight of the drill,

will swing into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8. Presupposingthat the finger 53 upon the end of the rod 51 is positioned as shown inFig. 7, it will be seen that this finger 53, engaging the end 44 of thepawl, will advance the pawl proper 42 into engagement with the ratchet41, thereby to swing the casing again'into the position shown in Fig. 8.Obviously, as the casing 40 thus oscillates, the jerk line 55 will bereeled into the groove 56 and released, causing a reciprocation of thejerk line, and consequently a tilting of the arm 29, the tiltingmovement of the arm 29 causing a reciprocation of the drill rope 27 andproducing the required action of the drill in the well.

The operation to reel the drill rope upon the drum 26 is as follows.Presupposing that the collar 36 is in the position shown in Fig. 5, thelever 37 is manipulated to lower the collar, so that it will engage thesquared end 35' of the shaft 33, thus connecting the shaft 33operatively with the shaft 25. During the operation of raising orlowering the drill, the jerk line I55 should not be operated. In orderto render the jerk line 55 temporarily inactive, the rod 51 is retractedinto the position shown in Fig. 8, so that the finger 53 upon the end ofthe rod 51 will be withdrawn from the path of the end 44 of the pawl. Insuch case, the pawl proper 42 will remain, as shown in dotted lines inFig. 8, out of engagement with the ratchet 41. Therefore, when the shaft33 is rotated, by mechanism to be described hereinafter, the casing 40will remain in fixed position, the jerk line 55 being at rest. The shaft33, however, being operatively connected with the shaft 25, will cause arotation of the drum 26, reeling in the drill rope 27 over the sheaves28 and 31.

Supported for rotation in bearings 61, secured to the cross bars 12, 14and 15, is a shaft 60, located out of alinement with the shafts 25 and33. The shaft 60 carries a winding drum 62, one end of the shaft 60being denoted by the numeral 63. The drum 62 is, as shown in Fig. 6,normally held uplifted by means of a lever 64, fulcrumed upon a bracket65, attached to the cross bar 14, the lever 64 being equipped withfingers 66 which engage the drum to lift the same, without interferingwith the rotation of the drum. The drum 62 and the shaft 60 are providedwith polygonal interlocking ele ments 67 located adjacent the end 63 ofthe shaft, whereby a rotation of the shaft 60 will produce a rotation ofthe drum 62, when the interlocking elements 67 are in engagement, thedrum 62 being normally maintained in the uplifted position shown in Fig.6 by the engagement between the free end of the lever 64 and a standard68, fixed to and rising from the flooring 7 of the platform. Theslush-rope 69 is wound about the drum 62, the slush-rope being carriedthrough a sheave 70 secured to one of the lower members 17 of thederrick, the slushrope thence extending upwardly through another sheave71, secured to one of the upper members 19 of the derrick, The free endof the slush-rope is carried downwardly, and may be temporarily secured,as shown at 72 to the cross bar 15. As will beexplained hereinafter, theshaft 60 is in continuous rotation when the device is in use, the drum62 being lowered into operative engagement with the shaft 60, when it isdesired to use the slush-rope 69.

As will appear hereinafter, the shaft 33 is rotated simultaneously withthe shaft 60. It has been pointed out hereinbefore that the jerk line 55may be rendered inoperative from the shaft 33, and Fig. 5 will serve toshow that the drum 26 may likewise be maintained inoperative from theshaft 33. Un-

der such conditions, the shaft 60 will rotate, to actuate the drum 62,thereby to manipulate the slush-rope 69. In order to hold the drum 26against rotation when, as shown in Fig. 5, the shaft 25 is disconnectedfrom the shaft 33, one end 73 (see Fig. 4) of the drum 26 is surroundedby a strap brake 74, secured at one end, as shown at 75, to the crossbar 15, the other extremity of the strap brake being attached to theintermediate portion of an upright lever 76, fulcrumed as shown at 77,to one of the uprights 11, the movement of the lever 76 being controlledby a rod 7'8, one end of which is pivoted to the lever, the other end ofthe rod being pivoted to an operating member 79, fulcrumed adjacent itslower end upon one of the sills 6, the operating member being providedwith suitable latch mechanism to engage a segment 80, preferably carriedby one of the braces 23.

A variety of mechanisms may be employed for securing a rotation of theshafts 33 and 60. For instance, a sprocket chain or other flexiblemember 82 may be passed around the periphery of the polygonal portion 2of the frame, and held therein by outstanding fingers 81. This chain 82may be engaged with a sprocket wheel 83 upon the shaft 60, and with asprocket wheel 84 upon the shaft 33. To one of the sills 6, a belttightener 85 may be attached, the tightener 85 carrying a sprocket wheel86, engaging the interior of the chain 82, to maintain the same at thedesired tension.

The chain 82 will be held fixed upon the hexagonal portion 2 of theframe, and when one or more draft animals are attached to the clevis 9,the platform, including the sills 6, may be rotated upon the frame 1,the pivot element 5 acting as a center. When the platform is thusrotated upon the frame, the chain 82 will engage the sprocket wheels 83and 84:, causing a rotation of the shafts 60 and 33, respectively.

Under ordinary conditions, the shafts 33 and 25 are spaced apart, asshown in Fig. 5, the drum 26 being maintained against rotation by meansof the strap brake 74. Likewise, the drum 62 is, as shown in Fig. 6,maintained out of operative engagement with the shaft 60. Under suchcircumstances, the casing 40 is the primary operative member of thestructure, and as the platform is rotated upon the pivot element 5,through the instrumentality of the sills 6, the sprocket wheel 84,passing along the fixed chain 82, will cause a rotation of the shaft 33,the rotation of the shaft 38 operating, as hereinbefore described inconnection with Figs. 7 and 8, to actuate the jerk line 55, therebycausing a reciprocation of the drill and the drill rope.

As hereinbefore described, by manipulating the rod 51, the jerk line 55may be rendered inoperative, whereupon by manipulating the lever 37, thedrum 26 may be rendered operative to reel in the drill rope 27. Or, whenboth the jerk line 55 and the drill rope 27 are out of commission, thelever 6a may be manipulated to connect the drum 62 to the shaft 60,thereby reeling in the slush-rope 69.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is z- 1. In a deviceof the class described, a fixed frame; a platform rotatable upon theframe; a shaft journaled in the platform; means for operativelyconnecting the shaft and the frame to secure a rotation of the shaftupon a rotation of the platform; a casing rotatable upon the shaft;means for clutching the casing to the shaft and for releasing the casingfrom the shaft; a jerk line adapted to be wound upon the casing, an armpivoted to the frame and connected with the jerk line; and a drill lineengaged with the arm.

2. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; alinedshafts mounted therein for independent rotation; a winding drum upon oneshaft; an arm pivoted to the supporting structure; a drill line woundupon the drum and engaged with the arm; a jerk line connected to thearm; means upon the other shaft for actuating the jerk line; clutchmechanism operatively connecting the shafts; and means for operatingvsaid other shaft.

3. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; alinedshafts mounted therein for independent rotation; a winding drum upon oneshaft; an arm pivoted to the supporting structure; a drill line woundupon the drum and engaged with the arm; a casing rotatable upon theother shaft; means for clutching the casing to its shaft and forreleasing the casing therefrom; a jerk line wound upon the casing andconnected with the arm; clutch mechanism operatively connecting theshafts; and means for operating said other shaft.

4. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; shaftsjournaled therein; a slush line drum rotatably mounted upon thesupporting structure; means for clutching the drum to one shaft forrotation therewith; means for imparting simultaneous rotation to bothshafts; a drill line; a jerk line operatively connected with the drillline; a casing rotatable upon the other shaft; and means for clutchingthe casing to its shaft and for releasing the casing therefrom, the jerkline being adapted to be wound upon the casing.

5. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; alinedshafts independently rotatable therein; means for clutching the shaftstogether for simultaneous rotation; a drill line drum upon one shaft; adrill line adapted to be wound upon said drum; a jerk line operativelyconnected to the drill line; means upon the other shaft for actuatingthe jerk line; a third shaft rotatable in the supporting structure; aslush line drum mounted for rotation upon the third shaft; means forclutching the third shaft to the last named drum; and means foractuating simultaneously, said third shaft and the shaft which isequipped with the jerk line actuating means.

6. In a device of the class described, a

supporting structure; alined shafts independently rotatable therein;means for clutching the shafts together for simultaneous rotation; adrill line drum upon one shaft; an arm pivoted to the supportingstructure and adapted to receive the drill line from the drum; a jerkline connected to the arm; a casing rotatable upon the shaft andperipherally adapted for the reception of the jerk line; means forclutching the casing to its shaft and for releasing the easing from saidshaft; a third shaft rotatable in the supporting structure; a slush linedrum mounted for rotationupon the third shaft; means for clutching thethird shaft to the last named drum; and means for actuatingsimultaneously said third shaft and the shaft upon which the casing isrotatable.

7. In a device of the class described, jerk line actuating meanscomprising a shaft; a casing rotatable upon the shaft and peripherallyadapted for the reception of the jerk line; means in the casing forclutching the casing to the shaft; and a device for releasing theclutching means.

8. In a device of the class described, jerk line actuating meanscomprising a support; a shaft journaled therein; a segmental casingrotatable upon the shaft and peripherally adapted for the reception ofthe jerk line; a ratchet fixed upon the shaft within the casing; a pawlpivoted in the casing and adapted to engage the ratchet; a stopadjust-ably fixed upon the support and engaging the pawl to free thesame from the ratchet; and support-carried spring means for advancingthe pawl to engage the ratchet.

9. In a device of the class described, jerk line actuating meanscomprising a support; a shaft journaled therein; a segmental casingrotatable upon the shaft in one direction by the weight of the drill,the casing being peripherally adapted for the reception of the jerkline; means for clutching the casing to the shaft for rotation in anopposite direction; a stop upon the supporting structure engaging saidmeans at the limit of its rotation with the shaft, to free said meansfrom the shaft; and a support-carried member manually movable into thepath of said means to advance the same into clutching relation withrespect to the shaft at the limit of the rotation of the casing underthe weight of the drill.

10. In a device of the class described, jerk line actuating meanscomprising a support;

a shaft journaled therein; a segmental easing rotatable upon the shaftin one direction under the weight of the drill, the casing beingperipherally adapted for the reception of the jerk line; a ratchetsecured to the shaft; a pawl pivoted to the casing and adapted to engagethe ratchet; support-carried means engaging the pawl to break theengagement between the pawl and the ratchet at the limit of the movementof the casing with the shaft; and spring means engaging the pawl at thelimit of the rotation of the casing under the weight of the drill, toadvance the pawl into engagement with the ratchet.

11. In a device of the class described, jerk line actuating meanscomprisin a rotatably mounted shaft; a segmental casing rotatable uponthe shaft; a ratchet secured to the shaft; a pawl engaging the ratchetand provided with diverging arms; links pivotally uniting the arms withthe casing; a fixed stop adapted to engage one arm to tilt the pawl outof engagement with the ratchet at the limit of the rotation of thecasing by the ratchet, the casing being rotatable upon the shaft in anopposite direction, under the weight of the drill; and manually operablemeans adapted to engage the other arm of the pawl at the limit of therotation of the casing under the weight of the drill, to advance thepawl into engagement with the ratchet.

12. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; alinedshafts journaled for rotation therein; a drum secured to one shaft; anarm pivoted to the supporting structure; a drill rope wound upon thedrum and passed about the arm; a lever pivoted to the supportingstructure; a brake actuatable by the lever toengage the drum; anoperating member pivoted upon the supporting structure remote from thelever; a connection between the operating member and the lever; meansfor clutching the shafts together for simultaneous rotation; a jerk lineconnected with the arm; means upon the other shaft for actuating thejerk line; and means for driving the last named shaft.

13. In a device of the class described, a frame provided with apolygonal portion; a platform rotatable upon the frame; a beltsurrounding the polygonal portion of the frame and held againstlongitudinal movement thereon, by the angles of said portion; a shaftjournaled for rotation in the platform; a pulley upon the shaft locatedbe tween the belt and the frame and engaged by the belt; abelt-tightener upon the platform adapted to maintain the belt inengagement with the pulley; and drill actuating means operable by theshaft.

14. In a device of the class described, a fixed frame; a platformcomprising con verging sills disposed above the frame and projectingterminally therebeyond; a flooring secured to the sills; a pivot elementsecured to the frame and projecting into the flooring; upright,converging derrick members secured to the platform; a diagonal braceuniting the apex of the derrick with the apex of the sills; spaceduprights rising from the platform; diagonal braces uniting the uprights,the derrick and the spaced ends of the sills; drill actuating meanssupported upon the uprights; and mechanism operatively connecting saidmeans with the frame to actuate said means upon a rotation of theplatform.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

STEUBEN DEKALB WHAM. WVitnesses:

B. L. SrArr, W. F. LAMLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

